Carpet retaining means



Dec. 14, 1965 w. a. TAFT CARPET RETAINING MEANS Filed April 25, 1965 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,222,834 CARPET RETAINING MEANS William G. Taft, 154 Nanti St., Park Forest, Ill. Filed Apr. 23, 1963, Set. No. 275,036 8 Claims. (Cl. 52221) My present invention relates generally to carpet retaining means and more specifically to carpet retaining means for securing floor carpet in position about a normally closed access opening in the supporting floor structure.

Service ducts, which carry electric cables, telephone lines and the like, are commonly enclosed within the supporting floor structures of commercial buildings. In order to permit the installation, reapir and replacement of such cables and lines, suitable access openings are provided at various locations in the service ducts and adjacent floor. These access openings are closed by removable closure or access plates. When a floor covering such as carpet is laid over a floor having access openings and closure plates of the character described accessibility to the latter is usually impaired. In some installations, the carpet must be rolled up to expose the appropriate access plate. Obviously, such procedure is time-consuming and difficult since furniture must invariably be moved, and is rather impractical when the carpet is fastened to the floor. Attempts have been made to remedy this problem by cutting openings in the carpet at the access plates. However, difiiculties have been experienced heretofore in securing and maintaining the edge portions of such openings in proper position about the access plates, and in covering the openings in the carpet.

It is an object of my present invention to provide carpet retaining means for securing the edge portion of an opening in floor carpet in position about a normally closed access opening in the supporting floor structure.

It is another object of my present invention to provide carpet retaining means for securing floor carpet in position about an access plate of a service duct in the supporting floor structure.

In the preferred application of my present invention an opening is cut in the main body of carpet above the access plate. This opening is slightly larger than the access plate so that the latter may be selectively Withdrawn therethrough without disturbing the main body of carpet. The portion of the carpet severed from the main body of carpet is normally retained in the opening for closing the same and covering the access plate. In connection with carpet cut in the manner described, I propose to provide a retaining member having an outer peripheral edge portion that overlies the edge portion of the main body of carpet adjacent the opening therein. Suitable screws are inserted through the retaining member and are threaded into the underlying structure whereby the edge portion of the main body of carpet adjacent the opening therein is compressed and gripped between the retaining member and the supporting floor. I further propose to provide the retaining member in the form of a ring having an inner peripheral edge portion that overlies the edge portion of the severed portion of carpet. When the screws associated with the retained member are fastened in position the edge portion of the severed portion of carpet is compressed and gripped between the retaining member and the access plate. Removal of the screws and retaining member permits the severed portion of carpet and the access plate to be withdrawn, thereby exposing the access opening in the duct.

It is another object of my present invention to provide carpet retaining means, as described, wherein a series of pin members are carried by the retaining member and engage the main body of carpet for maintaining the latter in position under the retaining member.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide carpet retaining means, as described, wherein another series of pin members are carried by the retaining member and engage the severed portion of carpet for maintaining the latter in position under the retaining member.

As a feature of my present invention the inner and outer exposed peripheral edges of the reta g ring bevelled so as to minimize any obstruction by the retaining ring in [mounted position.

It is still a further object of my present invention to provide carpet retaining means, as described, which is simple and inexpensive to construct and use, which will serve to reduce wear of the carpet at the access opening, and which has a pleasing appearance.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and using carpet retaining means in accordance with the principles of my present invention, I shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the carpet retaining means of my present invention in mounted position over carpet;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the carpet retaining means of FIGURE 1, the opening in the main body of carpet, and the severed portion of carpet;

FIGURE 3 is a partial vertical sectional view of the carpet retaining means of my present invention and the adjacent carpet and supporting floor structure, taken substantially along the line 33 in FIGURE 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the underside of the carpet retaining means of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawing, there is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 the carpet retaining means of my present invention. The carpet retaining means 10 comprises a retaining member 11 which is preferably in the form of an annular ring. As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, a first series of circumferentially spaced blind holes 12 are formed in the underside of the ring 11. The axes of the holes 12 lie in a circle adjacent the outer periphery of the ring 11. A second series of circumferentially spaced blind holes 13 are also formed in the ring 11 with their axes lying in a circle adjacent the inner periphery of the ring 11. The first series of holes 12 have disposed therein the one ends of normally downwardly projecting pin members 14, and the second series of holes 13 have disposed therein the one ends of normally downwardly projecting pin members 15. The pin members 14 and 15 may be secured within the holes 12 and 13 by means of soldering, brazing, welding, or the like. The lower ends of the pin members 14 and 15, as shown in FIGURE 3, are pointed so as to permit their ready disposal through floor covering material such as carpet. The ring member 11 is also formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 16 through which machine screws 17 are adapted to be disposed for securing the ring 11 in carpet retaining position as will be presently described.

The carpet retaining means 10 is especially adapted for securing the edge portion of an opening in floor carpet in position about a normally closed access opening in the supporting floor structure and more particularly about an access plate of a service duct in the supporting floor structure. One type of supporting floor structure, which is shown in part in FIGURE 3, may comprise a horizontal metal service duct 19 having an upper horizontal wall portion 20. The duct 19 may be embedded in a concrete subfloor. A circular access opening 21 is formed in the upper wall 20 of the duct and a slightly larger circular access opening 22 is formed in the floor 18 above the duct access opening 21. The duct 19 may, for example, be of the type that carries electric cables, telephone wires, and the like, and the duct access opening 21 serves to permit the installation, repair and replacement of such cables and lines. An annular reinforcing flange 23 is suitably secured to the underside of the upper duct wall 20 adjacent the access opening 21. Disposed in the floor opening 22 and supported on the top side of the upper duct wall 20 is a closure or access plate 24. The access plate 24 is formed with circumferentially spaced apertures 25 that are adapted to be aligned with circumferentially spaced threaded apertures 26 formed in the duct reinforcing flange 23.

When carpet 27 and carpet padding 28 are laid over the floor 18, an opening 29 is cut in the main body of carpet and carpet padding above the access plate 24. As will be observed in FIGURE 3, the opening 29 has a slightly larger diameter than the access plate 24 so that the latter may be conveniently withdrawn through the main body of carpet 27 and carpet padding 28. The portion 30 of the carpet 27 and the portion 31 of the carpet padding 28, which are severed from the main body of carpet and carpet padding, are normally retained in the opening 29 for closing the same and covering the access plate 24. Additionally, circumferentially spaced apertures 32 are formed in the severed portions 30 and 31 adjacent the outer periphery thereof. The cut edges of the main body of carpet 27 and of the severed portion of carpet 30 may be separately bound if desired; such binding is not, however, necessary since the edges are hidden from view by the retaining member 11 when the latter is in mounted position as shown in FIGURE 3 and described hereinafter.

In the preferred application of my present invention, the access plate 24 is disposed in the floor opening 22, and the severed carpet portion 30 and carpet padding portion 31 are disposed in the opening 29. The retaining ring 11 is then positioned over the circular cut in the main body of carpet 27 and carpet padding 28 which defines the periphery of the opening 29 and the periphery of the severed carpet portion 30 and carpet padding portion 31. The apertures 16 in the retaining ring 11 are suitably aligned with the apertures 32 in the severed carpet portion 30 and carpet padding portion 31, the apertures 25 in the access plate 24, and the threaded apertures 26 in the duct reinforcing flange 23. The machine screws 17 are then inserted through the upper apertures and threaded into the lower apertures 26. Upon tightening of the screws 17, the main body of carpet 27 and carpet padding 28, and the severed carpet portion 30 and carpet padding portion 31, are compressed and gripped between the retaining ring 11 and the underlying floor 18 and access plate 24. As a result of such compression, the ring 11 is moved into the nap of the carpet to the desired depth. Also, as the screws 17 are tightened, the outer series of pin members 14 are forced into the main body of carpet 27 adjacent the opening 29 therein, and the inner series of pin members 15 are forced into the severed carpet portion 30 adjacent the periphery thereof. The pin members 14 and 15 serve to maintain the main body of carpet 27 and the severed carpet portion 30 in position under the retaining ring 11. To minimize any obstruction by the retaining ring 11 when the latter is in mounted position, the upper edges of the latter at the inner and outer peripheries thereof are preferably bevelled as at 33 and 34 respectively.

In order to gain access to the duct 19 through the duct opening 21, the screws 17 may be removed to permit the retaining ring 11, the severed carpet portion 30 and carpet padding portion 31, and the access plate 24 to be 4 withdrawn, thereby exposing the access opening 21 in the duct 19. When work within the duct opening 21 has been completed, the access plate 24, the severed carpet portion 30 and carpet padding portion 31, and the retaining ring 11 may be mounted again in position.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the retaining member 11 may be made of any suitable material, such as brass, stainless steel or chrome plated iron, and that the size and shape thereof may be varied to accommodate different types of floor access openings. Similarly, the length and diameter of the pins 14 and 15 may be varied to accommodate different thicknesses of carpet and/or padding and various conditions of use. Still further, depending on the nature of application, the pins 14 and 15 may be secured directly to the underside surface of the ring 11 rather than being mounted in the holes 12 and 13, or the retaining member 11 and pins 14 and 15 may be cast as an integral unit. In any case, the carpet retaining mean of my present invention is simple and inexpensive to construct and use, will protect carpet edges and reduce carpet wear at the access opening, and provides a pleasant appearing closure for the access opening.

While I have shown and described what I believe to be a preferred embodiment of my present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. The combination of a main body of carpet having an opening therein, a severed portion of carpet disposed in the carpet opening, and an underlying floor structure, a carpet retaining member overlying the adjacent edges of the main body of carpet and the severed portion of carpet, at first series of pin members projecting downwardly from said retaining member and engaging the main body of carpet adjacent the periphery of the opening therein, a second series of pin members projecting downwardly from said retaining member and engaging the severed portion of carpet adjacent the outer periphery thereof, and means fastening said retaining member to the underlying floor structure whereby the main body of carpet and the severed portion of carpet may be clamped and retained in position.

2. The combination of a service duct having an access opening, a floor overlying the duct and having an opening therein above the duct access opening, an access cover plate disposed in the floor opening, a main body of carpet having an opening therein corresponding generally to the floor opening, and a severed portion of carpet disposed in the carpet opening, a carpet retaining member comprising an annular ring overlying the adjacent edges of the main body of carpet and the severed portion of carpet, apertures formed in said ring through which screws are disposed and threaded into the duct whereby the main body of carpet and the severed portion of carpet are clamped and retained in position at the duct access opening, and said screws and ring being removable so that the severed portion of carpet and access cover may be withdrawn to permit access to the service duct thereunder.

3. The combination of a service duct having'an access opening, a floor overlying the duct and having an opening therein above the duct access opening, an access cover plate disposed in the floor opening, and a carpet having an opening therein corresponding generally to the floor opening, a carpet retaining member overlying the edge of said carpet adjacent the opening therein, a series of pin members projecting downwardly from said retaining member, said pin members engaging the carpet adjacent the periphery of the opening therein, and means fastening said retaining member to the underlying floor structure whereby the carpet is clamped and retained in position at the duct access opening.

4. The combination of a service duct having an access opening, a floor overlying the duct and having an opening therein above the duct access opening, an access cover plate disposed in the floor opening, a main body of carpet having an opening therein corresponding generally to the floor opening, and a severed portion of carpet disposed in the carpet opening, a carpet retaining member overlying the adjacent edges of the main body of carpet and the severed portion of carpet, a first series of pin members projecting downwardly from said retaining member, a second series of pin members projecting downwardly from said retaining member, said first series of pin members engaging the main body of carpet adjacent the periphery of the opening therein, said second series of pin members engaging the severed portion of carpet adjacent the outer periphery thereof, apertures formed in said retaining member through which screws are disposed and threaded into the duct whereby the main body of carpet and the severed portion of carpet are clamped and retained in position at the duct access opening, and said screws and retaining member being removable so that the severed portion of carpet and access cover may be withdrawn to permit access to the service duct thereunder.

5. The combination of a service duct having an access opening, a floor overlying the duct and having an opening therein above the duct access opening, an access cover plate disposed in the floor opening, and a carpet having an opening therein corresponding generally to the floor opening, a carpet retaining member overlying the edge of said carpet adjacent the periphery of the opening therein, a series of holes formed in the underside of said retaining member, a plurality of downwardly projecting pin members secured in said holes, said pin members engaging the carpet adjacent the periphery of the opening therein, apertures formed in said retaining member through which screws are disposed and threaded into the duct whereby the carpet is clamped and retained in position at the duct access opening, and said screws and retaining member being removable so that the access cover may be withdrawn to permit access to the service duct thereunder.

6. The combination of a service duct having an access opening, a floor overlying the duct and having an opening therein above the duct access opening, an access cover plate disposed in the floor opening, a main body of carpet having an opening therein corresponding generally to the floor opening, and a severed portions of carpet disposed in the carpet opening, a carpet retaining member overlying the adjacent edges of the main body of carpet and the severed portion of carpet, a first series of holes formed in the underside of said retaining member, a second series of holes formed in the underside of said retaining member, a plurality of downwardly projecting pin members secured in said series of holes, said pin members in said first series of holes engaging the main body of carpet adjacent the periphery of the opening therein, said pin members in said second series of holes engaging the severed portion of carpet adjacent the outer periphery thereof, apertures formed in said retaining member through which screws are disposed and threaded into the duct whereby the main body of carpet and the severed portion of carpet are clamped and retained in position at the duct access opening, and said screws and retaining member being removable so that the severed portion of carpet and access cover may be withdrawn to permit access to the service duct thereunder,

7. The combination of a horizontal service duct having an access opening in the top wall thereof, a floor overlying the duct and having an opening therein above the duct access opening, an access cover plate disposed in the floor opening, a main body of carpet having an opening therein corresponding generally to the floor opening, and a severed portion of carpet disposed in the carpet opening, a carpet retaining member comprising an annular ring overlying the adjacent edges of the main body of carpet and the severed portion of carpet, a first series of blind holes formed in the underside of said ring with their axes lying in a circle adjacent the outer periphery of said ring, a second series of blind holes formed in the underside -of said ring with their axes lying in a circle adjacent the inner periphery of said ring, a plurality of downwardly projecting pin members secured in said series of blind holes, the outer series of said pin members engaging the main body of carpet adjacent the periphery of the opening therein, the inner series of said pin members engaging the severed portion of carpet adjacent the outer periphery thereof, apertures formed in said ring through which screws are disposed and threaded into the duct whereby the main body of carpet and the severed portion of carpet are clamped and retained in position at the duct access opening, said ring having bevelled upper edges at the inner and outer peripheries thereof to minimize any obstruction, and said screws and ring being removable so that the severed portion of carpet and access cover may be with drawn to permit access to the service duct thereunder.

8. A carpet retaining member comprising an annular ring, a first series of holes formed in the underside of said ring with their axes lying in a circle adjacent the outer periphery of said ring, a second series of holes formed in the underside of said ring with their axes lying in a circle adjacent the inner periphery of said ring, a plurality of downwardly projecting pin members secured in said holes, apertures formed in said ring through which fastening screws are adapted to be disposed, and said ring having bevelled upper edges at the inner and outer peripheries thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,521,157 12/1924 King et al. 164 X 2,847,140 8/1958 Voss 2203.3

FOREIGN PATENTS 713,388 8/1931 France.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. 

2. THE COMBINATION OF A SERVICE DUCT HAVING AN ACCESS OPENING, A FLOOR OVERLYING THE DUCT AND HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN ABOVE THE DUCT ACCESS OPENING, AN ACCESS COVER PLATE DISPOSED IN THE FLOOR OPENING, A MAIN BODY OF CARPET HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN CORRESPONMDING GENERALLY TO THE FLOOR OPENING, AND A SEVERED PORTION OF CAPRET ISPOSED IN THE CARPET OPENING, A CARPET RETAINING MEMBER COMPRISING AN ANNULAR RING OVERLYING THE ADJACENT EDGES OF THE MAIN BODY OF CARPET AND THE SEVERED PORTION OF CARPET, APERTURES FORMED IN SAID RING THROUGH WHICH 